E-Gobrecht, May 2017

, (Collectors

The E-Gobrecht

Liberty Seated
Collectors Club

20 17 Volume 13, Issue 5

May 20 17 (Whole #148)

Liberty Seated Dime
Survey Now Online!

2

Register now for the
Liberty Seated Sum-
mer Seminar

3

Auction News
by Craig Eberhart

4-5

LSCC Calendar

5

Regional News
by Dennis Fortier

6

April 201 7 Bay State
Coin Show Club Ta-
ble Images

7

Cracked, Shattered,
and Terminal
by Benny Haimovitz

8-9

The Curious

Collector

by Len Augsburger

lo-

ll

Quarter of the Month
by Greg Johnson

12

Counting the Rou-
leaus, New Orleans
Branch Mint, 1839
by Jim Laughlin

13-

16

Free Advertisements

17

LSCC

Information

18

r A^Liberty

\X m Seated
{^igollectors

^Ouh

V T/ Founded 1973

Bill Bugert's first four Register books are
now online - gratis use!

In case you have not already heard, it is with great pleasure that I render the first
four volumes of my Register series available for gratis use. Volumes I thru IV in-
clude details of the mintmarked die marriages of the Liberty Seated half dollar series.
They are as follows and downloading links at on the club website at
www.lsccweb.org.

Bugert, Bill. ^ Register of dberty Seated Half Hollar Varieties^ Volume San Francisco
Branch Mint. Gettysburg, PA: Self-pubUshed, 2009.

Bugert, Bill. M Register of Fiberty Seated Half Hollar Varieties , Volume I/, Carson City
Branch Mint. Gettysburg, PA: Self-pubUshed, 2010.

Bugert, Bin. ^ Register of Fiberty Seated Half Hollar Varieties^ Volume JIT, New Orleans
Branch Mint 1840-0 to 1 853-0 NA. Gettysburg, PA: Self-pubHshed, 2011.

Bugert, Bill. ^ Register of Fiberty Seated Half Hollar Varieties , Volume IV , New Orleans
Branch Mint 1853-0 WA to 1861-0. Gettysburg, PA: Self-pubHshed, 2013.

For many years, I found that carting my notes, diagrams, and/ or these heavy books
(Volumes III and IV each weigh over 5 pounds) around shows was impossibly cum-
bersome. If I ever wanted to increase interest in the Liberty seated half dollar series,
this situation would have to be simpUfied for others. Loading these Registers onto a
Hghtweight computer tablet faciUtates easy use and quick research of die marriages at
locations away from my home Hbrary such as coin shows. I have tested this tech-
nique; it works very well and saves frustration and neck and shoulder pain.

The mechanics of using these are simple. Download and save the pdf file onto your
desktop, laptop, and/or tablet. Be patient during the download; the files are very
large but worth the wait. Open the file with your pdf viewer and use its functions
(i.e., search, go-to, zoom-in, etc.) to navigate thru the document.

Subsequent supplements with additional die marriages (one is in the works now) wHl
be made available for your use.

^ Register of Fiberty Seated Half Hollar Varieties, Volume V, Philadelphia Mint, 1839-1852
is not included in this Hsting as it is currently for sale.

The E-Gobrecht \s an award winning informal electronic publication of the Liberty Seated Collectors Club (LSCC).
The LSCC is a non-profit organization dedicated to the attributions of the Liberty Seated Coin series. The LSCC pro-
vides the information contained in this email newsletter from various sources free of charge as a general service to
the membership and others with this numismatic interest. You do not have to be a LSCC member to benefit from this
newsletter; subscription to the E-Gobrecht \s available to anyone. All disclaimers are in effect as the completeness
and/or accuracy of the information contained herein cannot be completely verified. Contact information is included
on the last page.

Page 2

The E-Gobrecht

Liberty Seated Dime Survey Now Online!

LSCC members and guests may now anonymously contribute their Liberty Seated dimes to our 2017 Sur-
vey online. Members received a yellow Survey form with their March Gohrecht Journal^ but they also have the op-
tion to submit their surveys electronically by filUng out forms on the LSCC website. Guests (LSCC non-
members) can only submit their responses electronically.

To respond to the survey, go to the LSCC website (www.lsccweb.org) . Under LSCC News, you will
see the Survey announcement. CUck to go to the survey.

LSCC News

Participate in 2017 LSCC Seated Dime Survey: The Liberty Seated Collectors Club

(LSCC) is conducting a survey on Liberty Seated dimes. Members and guests can contribute to our
knowledge of the series by anonymously reporting their holdings in a census study that involves both
Date/Mintmark combinations (including Red Book varieties), and also a Top 100 Varieties study.
Click here or on the image to the left to go to the Survey page.

The survey consists of two parts — a Date and mintmark survey including Red Book varieties, and also
the Top 100 Varieties. Each part has its own form. On the Survey page, select the part of the survey you wish
to enter.

Each part of the survey utilizes a separate form, both of which are available here. Select
whichever form(s) you wish. Links to the surveys are as follows:

Link for Date & rmintmark and Red Book vari&ti&s surv&y

Link for Top IDO varieties survey

Collectors can choose to fill out one of the two parts, or both of them. The survey is anonymous, but we
do ask you to indicate whether you are an LSCC member or a Guest (non-member) by selecting the appropriate
button. Then fill in your holdings (no need to enter 0). See example below.

Survey Respondant - (Select one)

Date

Example: W43
1337, Large Date

1337, Sinall Date
1333-0

1333, Simall Stars
1333, Large Stars
1333. Partial Drapery
1339, No Drapery

- LSCC member
* Guest (LSCC non-member)

AG-G

VG

F

VF

XF

AU

50-55

AU58-

MS&2

MS 55+

Proof

CertlTied

1

1

2

1

1

1

2

1

1

2

1

1

1

1 r

1 r

1 r

1 r

1 r

1 r

1 r

1 r

1 r

20 1 /Volume 1 3, Issue 5 (May 20 1 7)

Page 3

(Continued from previous page)

When you are all done, hit the Submit Survey button at the bottom of the form.

SUBMIT SURVEY

After submission, you will asked whether you want to continue the Survey (complete the second form
for the other part), or return to the LSCC Home Page.

As with the paper survey form, the deadline for the survey is June 30. Thank you for your participa-

tion!

Register now for “Developing a Passion for Liberty Seated
Coinage" aX the ANA Summer Seminar^ June 17-22!

Tills coiicse will featiue interactive discnTssion& on nianv topics,
including the histoiT and devielopment of Libertv Seated coinage,
evolution of the desi^s, and grading, including die nuances, between
3erieE„ Tlie core of the class features a de ep dive into each of ttie seven
senes: Isalf dimes, dimes, twentv-cent pieces, quarters, lialves, and both
libertv Seated and Trade dollars.

Tliese deep dives entail in-hand mspection of manv coins in all
grades in all series, and VhilJ include in-depth discussions into collecting
strategies, kev dates, major varieties, attribution, coimterfeits, and
aiifhentication. Students will have access to both reference materials
and sit-down guidance from instructors througliout the course.

wmm

* hntn 1: Imi 1D-2I

* JMi

* hnfcB I:

Hie AXA Summer Seminar Coucse Catalog is online. Seminar details and registration information
are available at the ANA w-ebsite, www.iiioiiev.Qfg .

Course #28 is a four-day class and sessions go all dav- Breaks, meals,
and evenings allows for netw’orking and camaraderie with all. students and
instructors, and provide plentv of time to talk coins with people of all
backgrounds and levels of experience, from morning to niglit

Class sise is limited to 24 students, so if vou are interested in attending
tills class, register soon, as it is filling upl

Seminar #9: Developing a Passion for libertv Seated Coinage
Instructors: Gerrv Fortin iT^CC President)

John Frost iT^CC Dicector of Education)

Guest Lecturer: Len Augsburger sT^CC \'ice President)

Page 4

The E-Gobrecht

Auction News

by Craig Eberhart, LSCC #1348

The Baltimore Auctions by Stack’s Bowers Galleries
March 29 - April 4

Three auction catalogs were issued by Stack’s
Bowers for the Baltimore coin show: the typical or
normal catalog entitled "The Shaw and Bettencourt
Collections;" "The Blue Moon Collection Part 1;" and
Part V of the Pogue Collection."

The Pogue Collection, one of the most out-
standing collections of early U.S. coinage ever assem-
bled, included 27 Liberty Seated coins in Part V, all of
which were graded by PCGS. As with other coins in
the Pogue collection these Liberty Seated coins are the
finest or among the finest graded by PCGS. Sixteen of
the 27 were the "no drapery" or "no stars" design. An
1837 half dime, graded PR66, sold for $48,175 and an
1837 dime graded PR65 sold for $28,200. Perhaps the
most interesting comparison is between the two 1839
half dollars. Both were graded MS-65. The "no dra-
pery" sold for $141,000 and the "with drapery" for
$21,150. Based on the current PCGS population re-
ports, the "no drapery" design is sHghtly rarer in uncir-
culated condition (33 graded versus 50) and in MS65
and better (3 graded versus 4). Additionally, Randy
Wiley and Bill Bugert rated the mint state "no drapery"
1 839 as an R-6- and the mint state "with drapery" as an
R-5+ in ne Complete Guide to dberty Seated Half Dollars.
Presuming the population report is reasonably repre-
sentative for both dates, the large price difference
should be attributed to the "no drapery" half dollar be-
ing a one-year type coin.

The Blue Moon Collection included many of
the proof Liberty Seated coins from 1865 to 1891.
Nearly complete sets of Gobrecht, Liberty Seated, and
Trade dollars were also in this collection. The nine
Gobrecht dollars were exceptional with PCGS grades
ranging from PR64 to PR65+ and prices from $70,500
to $199,750. Virtually all of the Liberty Seated and

Trade dollars were uncirculated or proof coins. Many
of the dollars had uneven toning, often wide dark
bands, that appeared to be from historical storage. An
1846-0 with some marks on the shield and uneven
toning on the reverse was graded PCGS AU58 and
sold for the low price of $1,645. A PCGS AU58 1878-
CC Trade Dollar sold for $10,575.

The normal Baltimore Catalog included a nice
selection of rarer date Liberty Seated quarters from the
Middleton Collection all graded by PCGS as follows:

1 840-0 with drapery large O
1 842-0 small date
1857-S
1859-S

1 861 -S (not Middleton)

1861-S

1867-S

1870- CC

1871- CC

1871- S

1872- S

1873- CC
1875-CC

Heritage Auction - Dallas, TX April 4-6

This auction included an extensive collection of
PCGS graded Carson City Liberty Seated coins primar-
ily from the R. Thayer Sheets Yorktown Collection
as follows:

VF35

$3,525

VGIO

$1,175

EF45

$881

EF40

$3,760

AU58

$18,800

AU55

$8,225

VF30

$1,292

FI 5

$16,450

G4

$5,875

F12

$1,762

G4

$1,997

Ff2

$2,350

MS62

$3,995

1872-CC

1874-CC

Dimes
VF35 $3,290
VG8 $8,225

(Continued on page 5)

20 1 /Volume 1 3, Issue 5 (May 20 1 7)

Page 5

(Continued from page 4)

Liberty Seated Dollars

1870-CC

AU50

$4,582

Quarters

1870-CC

AU58

$15,275

1842-0

XF45

$5,910 small date, not

1871-CC

VF35

$8,518 not Yorktown

Yorktown

1871-CC

MS61

$3,6425 not Yorktown

1867

AU55 CAC $5,170 notYorktown

1870-CC

VF20

$21,150

Trade Dollars

1873-CC

G4

$4,935 with arrows, of

1878-CC

MS61

$14,100 NGC not York

course

town

1875-CC

AU58

$5,875

Half Dollars

1870-CC

G4

$1,527

1872-CC

VF35

$1,292

1873-CC

XF40

$2,820 no arrows

1873-CC

AU50

$2,173 arrows ANACS
not Yorktown

1874-CC

XF40

$4,465

1878-CC

XF45

$4,154

1878-CC

F12

$1,762 not Yorktown

Central States Numismatic Society
Heritage Auctions, Chicago April 26-30

The results of this auction will be included in
the next month’s Auction Nem.

LSCC Calendar

^ May 5-6, 2017. LSCC Table, Meeting, and Educational Program. Manchester, NH. New Hampshire
Coin Expo, Radisson Hotel center of NH. Joe Casazza, John Frost, and Dennis Fortier will be at the
club table. The meeting will be Friday May 5 at 2 PM. Gerry Fortin will give his new presentation
''The Many Faces of Liberty Seated Coinage” at the meeting.

* May 7, 2017. LSCC table. Norwich, CT. Pawcatuck Valley Coin Show, HoHday Inn, Chelsea Rose
Room, 10 Laurel Boulevard, Norwich, CT. John Frost hosts.

I May 8, 2017. Educational Program. Bristol, CT. Dennis Fortier will be speaking at the Bristol CT coin /
club on Overrated/Underrated Liberty Seated Coins on Monday May 8^^.

(May 18-20, 2017. LSCC table and Educational Program. Somerset, NJ. Garden State Numismatic^
Association Convention, Ukrainian Culture Center, Somerset, NJ. Carl Feldman and John Frost will (
host.

LSCC website: www.lsccweb.org

20 1 /Volume 1 3, Issue 5 (May 20 1 7)

Page 6

Regional News

by Dennis Fortier, LSCC #2016

Joe Casazza Takes
the Helm in the
Northeast Region

The Northeast Region now
has a Director. Joe Casazza

has agreed to become the Northeast Regional Direc-
tor. Welcome to the Team Joe and thank you for ac-
cepting the challenge of being a leader in the LSCC.

There are many other parts of the country the
club would like to reach. If you are newly retired and
looking for a challenge please consider joining the
team as Joe has done.

Another Baltimore is in the books. The club
had an excellent show. Thirty-eight members and
guests attended the club meeting on Friday morning
while ten members attended the club dinner the previ-
ous night.

The Regional Team signed up three new mem-
bers and had six members renew for this year. Three
club shirts were sold as well.

Three members, Alan Welty, George Fullmer,
and John Frost combined to build a marvelous exhibit
of Liberty Seated Half Dimes. No less than four 1846
Half Dimes (grading FI 5 to XF45), a key date in the
series, were together in the display. Alan and George
headlined the Half Dime display and table staffing on
Friday. It was a pleasure to have these knowledgeable
numismatists join us at the table.

John Frost presented a talk prepared by Mr.
Half Dime Steve Crain at the meeting. This well re-
ceived presentation tied in the Half Dime display at the
club table.

Usually the club table is not staffed on Thurs-
day, however the table was set up early on Thursday
and there was steady activity for most of the after-
noon. With New Member Chairman Carl Feldman,
and new Northeast Regional Director Joe Casazza
staffing the table along with John Frost and Dennis
Fortier.

John Frost was invited to speak at the Thomas
P. Rockwell Memorial Lecture, a very high honor. Past
lecturers include Q. David Bowers. John gave a talk

on Three Numismatic Vignettes. John referenced the
club several times in these talks. We signed up a new
member on the spot, and several flyers were given out
as well.

Joe Casazza hosted the club table with Dennis
Fortier at Bay State. One new member was signed up
and long time member Dick McFadden LSCC# 236
stopped by the table. Thanks to Ed Aleo the show
promoter for his long-standing support of the club.

The Central States meeting was hosted by Cen-
tral Region Director Stephen Petty. It is reported that
the meeting was very well attended. LSCC President
Gerry Fortin gave his new presentation 'The Many
Faces of Liberty Seated Coinage” and Club Vice Presi-
dent Len Augsburger demonstrated how to use the
Newman Portal to access past issues of the Gohrecht
Journal.

The month of May will be busy in the North-
east Region. Manchester NH, May 5-6, has Joe Casaz-
za, John Frost, and Dennis Fortier will be at the club
table. The meeting wiU be Friday May 5 at 2 PM.
Gerry Fortin will give his new presentation "The Many
Faces of Liberty Seated Coinage” at the meeting.

John Frost hosts the club table at Pawcatuck
Valley Coin Club’s annual coin show May 7^^ in Nor-
wich CT.

Dennis Fortier will be speaking at the Bristol
CT coin club on Overrated/Underrated Liberty Seated
Coins on Monday May 8^^.

Garden State Numismatic Association Con-
vention May 18-20, Somerset NJ will have Carl Feld-
man and John Frost hosting a club table. The educa-
tional portion has not been finalized as of this time.

Club membership currently stands at over 625.
That is a robust beginning for the year. Several mem-
bers have signed up for extra years. This strong mem-
bership total is a testament to the hard work of the
club leadership, the Regional Team, and the club publi-
cations that are second to none in the hobby.

At the Baltimore club dinner, a first-time at-
tendee was asked if he ever thought he would go to
dinner and talk coins all thru the evening. He smiled
and excitedly said, no he never did. Where else can
you share your passion for coins than with your fellow
club members.

20 1 /Volume 1 3, Issue 5 (May 20 1 7)

Page 1

April 201 7 Bay State Coin Show Club Table Images

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Page 8

The E-Gobrecht

Cracked, Shattered, and Terminal

by Benny Haimovitz, LSCC #2494

1 842 Liberty Seated Half Dollar

WB-12 Medium Date, Triple Punched, R-3

Mintage for the Liberty Seated half dollar at the Phila-
delphia mint in 1842 was 2,012,764. This date and
mint combination certainly provides 'something for
everyone’ ranging from rare to common. The WB-12
die marriage is just one of the numerous possibilities
for numismatic enjoyment.

Obverse Characteristics.

Starting with a medium size date clearly showing multi-
ple punching which in later die state, includes a

cracked die across the bottom of the date extending
out through the rim.

Die cracks begin to appear from both base and
rock support to the rim, with the strongest passing be-
tween stars 1 and 2 (above left image). Additionally,
another significant crack runs from star 7 across Liber-
ty’s head through star 8 to the rim (above right Image).

Reverse Diagnostics:

(Continued on page 9)

201 /Volume 1 3, Issue 5 (May 20 1 7)

Page 9

(Continued from page 8)

In very late die state, the reverse becomes even
more impressive with diamond shaped rim cud be-
tween A and M of AMERICA (upper image). Multiple
die cracks start to develop with most significant along
the bottom of HALF DOL. in progression toward a
retained cud (image above).

AMERICA (images above).

Die state diagnostics courtesy of Bill Bugert from his
'‘A Register of Liberty Seated Half Dollar Varie-
ties, Volume V, The Philadelphia Mint 1839 to

But wait, there is more. A heavy rim break
runs into a small cud at the top of the N in UNITED
and a much Ughter one is visible at the rim above C in

1852.

Images courtesy PCGS TrueView with this example
graded PCGS AU53/CAC.

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Wuximems@hotmail.com 207-329-9957

Page 10

The E-Gobrecht

The Curious Collector

by Len Augsburger, LSCC #1271

The Liberty Seated Cent

Images at right:
Judd-157 obverse and
reverse, ex. Eric P.
Newman (Heritage
4/2013, lot 3916)
[images courtesy
HA.com]

One of the most useful archival resources in
the Newman Numismatic Portal are the general corre-
spondence files of the U.S. Mint. R. W. Julian directed
the scanning of this series (National Archives record
group 104, entry 1), under a grant from the Central
States Numismatic Society, and shared the scans
(covering the period 1792-1857) with the Newman
Portal. Among the tens of thousands of pages in this
series is a single sheet containing a letter (depicted at
right) from Mint Director James Ross Snowden to
James Guthrie, Secretary of the Treasury, dated March
18, 1854, and transcribed as follows:

I herewith enclose to you a few specimens (9) of the pro-
posed one-cent coin. These pieces are prepared solely to exhibit
the sif^e and character of the metal They are intrinsically worth
say 80 cents per 100, @ consequent seignorage of 20 pr. cent.

The dies were hastily prepared; the head being cut by
copying lathe, from a silver-dollar pattern without] any re-
touching or alteration. Toth the metal and the devices will be
better upon the coin if authorised. Mr. Tooth [Melter (& Refin-
er] says, ‘%is metal will not alter in the wear. ’’ If desirable
more specimens will be forwarded to you when they shall have
been prepared.

The coins enclosed were examples of the Judd-

156 to Judd-159 ''Liberty Seated” pattern cents, and
the obverse of this pattern nicely demonstrates a step

. CfJ Ccs'.^ , -^^,4

y ^ ‘ic A ^

^ ¥^^4. , y* »»-r.

1^ ft i-i ^ »-*.9 M,

^rt

Ml

Snowden letter to Guthrie, March 18, 1854, Record
Group 104, Entry 1, Box 36. (Continued on next page)

20 1 /Volume 1 3, Issue 5 (May 20 1 7)

Page 1 1

(Continued from previous page)

in the process of mid-19th century die replication. A
reducing lathe traced over a model coin in a circular
fashion and imparted the same design onto a working
die. The circular lines were normally polished out of
the working die, but in this particular case the Mint Di-
rector decided to proceed without polishing the ob-
verse die and moved directly to striking examples. The
model coin is thought to be an 1854 seated dollar (the
crosslet of the 4 is not completely evident) although
the Mint Director here makes reference to a '‘pattern” -
but no dollar patterns are known for 1854. The date
styles of 1851 and 1854 seated dollars show that the
model coin was indeed an 1854 dollar, as the date for
1851 is high and slopes downward, while the 1854 date
is more centered in the field between base and rim.

The Secretary of the Treasury must have an-
swered in the affirmative, for on March 21 the Mint
Director wrote to James Booth and requested a hun-
dred "perfect examples” of the cent, "accompanied by
a report to be submitted to Congress.” As far as we
know, these "perfect examples” were never struck, a
pity for modern researchers as comparisons of the
known specimens with "perfect examples” would be
most instructive. All that remains today are the "hastily
prepared” examples, along with a few bits of illuminat-
ing documentation.

Link to U.S. Mint General Correspondence files on
Newman Portal:

https:/ / nnp.wustl.edu/library/ archivedetail/5 15202

Check out our Website

www.briangreerrarecoins.coni

We have a large inventory for all
denominations of Liberty Seated coinage.

Brian Greer - LSCC #716
(515) 331-3534
9 AM - 6 PM, CST weekdays

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Page 12

The E-Gobrecht

Quarter of the Month

by Greg Johnson, LSCC #1460

A New 1 853-0 Die Marriage

After more than eight years of
working on a die marriage set of
1853-0 quarters I felt the pro-
ject was probably complete, or at least complete
enough to publish a die study in Gobrecht Journal #118
in November 2013. That article described 11 die mar-
riages and catalogued some identifying characteristics
for each. The four years since that article was written
has passed without discovery of any additional die
marriages; though I have to admit I haven’t been look-
ing quite as hard as I was prior to publication. That
changed at the March Whitman Baltimore show. I was
approached by a collector who had discovered a new
die marriage previously unknown to me. He was kind
enough to loan me the piece for study — it is pictured
below.

The information I accumulated as part of the
published die study indicated that the rarest 1853-0

1853-0 J-1 12 Obverse (above)

Obverse 2 die chip on Liberty’s
neck not seen on this coin. Possible
new obverse die for J-1 12. See text.

1853-0 J-1 12 Reverse
(above and at right).
Mintmark close-up.

die marriage was Obverse 2 (identified by the die chip
in image below) paired with Reverse D (identified by
the mintmark location shown below; the die marriage
was assigned the J-1 04 number in the Gobrecht Journal
article. It was the only one of the 11 catalogued die
marriages to include reverse D. The newly discovered
die marriage pictured pairs reverse D with a different,
possibly unknown, obverse die. The discovery coin
grades Fine, too low a grade to conclusively rule out
the possibility that it is a previously identified obverse.
It is certain, however, that it is not Obverse 2 (the ob-
vious die chip at Liberty’s neck is absent) and that the
die marriage has not been seen previously. I will cata-
logue the new die marriage as J-1 12. For those few,
dedicated collectors working on a die marriage set of
1853-0 quarters there is now a new, challenging die
marriage for which to search. Happy hunting!

20 1 /Volume 1 3, Issue 5 (May 20 1 7)

Page 13

Counting the Rouleaus,
New Orleans Branch Mint, 1839

by Jim Laughlin, LSCC #876

As mentioned in last month article, the Newman Nu-
mismatic Portal had made available digital scans from
the National Archives that appeared to be related to
Mint Director Patterson’s 1839 investigation into the
operations of the New Orleans Mint, as was men-
tioned in his February 2^^, 1840, annual report to Con-
gress. These were identified by Newman Numismatic
Portal as having been scanned under the direction of
R. W. Julian, working under a grant from the Central
States Numismatic Society. Upon reading through all
345 handwritten pages, it appears this file is not the
entire case report, but is limited to the testimony taken
down during the depositions held at the New Orleans
Mint from June 19 through July 4, 1839. Thomas
Slidell, the U. S. Attorney for New Orleans, was ap-
pointed Commissioner to conduct this investigation.

The officers of the New Orleans Mint at the
time were David Bradford, Superintendent; Edmond
Forstall, Treasurer; James Maxwell, Melter and Refiner;
Rufus Tyler, Coiner; Dr. WiUiam Hort, Assayer. All
were deposed, as well as a number of the Mint’s ma-
chinists and clerks. Additionally, a few bullion deposi-
tors and bankers holding unpaid Mint Certificates were
called to testify. The depositions are missing some
pages, notably most of the Treasurer’s testimony, and
the first page of the Assayer’s testimony had been torn
and smeared when wet so as to become unreadable. It
is quite possible there are additional pages missing.
There was no index, nor was it apparently that it had
ever been page numbered from beginning to end.

The 345 pages of depositions are as one would
expect, full of conflicting testimonies and failures of a
witnesses to recollect. The lack of being privy to a list
of written directives or operating procedures current in
the Mints in 1838-1839, makes it difficult to summa-
rize exactly what was a violation and what was not. In
fact, reading the testimony, one harkens back to a
course in Management Development, where it seems
every principal taught had been violated by the Mint’s
Chief Officers and their immediate staff. With the

needs of space, I will just focus on a few pieces of in-
formation that came out in the testimony which might
be interest to Liberty Seated collectors and give a small
sample of what’s contained.

In the following, Damien Casas was a deposi-
tor who thought he was to get $200 in small change
for a deposit of 200 Mexican, Spanish, Portuguese, and
American Dollars. When he had been paid and had
taken the coin home and counted it, he beUeved he
had been paid only $199.50. Apparently following a
complaint, there was confusion as the Mint as they be-
lieved they owed him $212 and had paid him $212. At
about the same time, they found that they could not
even locate what had happened to Casas bullion de-
posit within the Mint facility itself, which contributed
to the start of the Mint Director’s investigation. Out
of this, we get a brief gHmpse from the testimony how
dimes were packaged at the New Orleans Mint in late
April, 1839.

Question on behalf of Superintendent Brad-
ford for Mr. Demitry, Clerk in the Treasurer’s Depart-
ment. June 25. (Page 87)

Q. How are dimes put up generally when they
are required in payments of small deposits; if in par-
cels, to what amount?

A. When put up in parcels they are put up in
$5 or $10 packages. The packages are not marked.
They are put up in small packages for the convenience
of the office, for small amounts of change. When large
amounts are put up in packages, it is done by the Por-
ter in his leisure hours, for which he receives a retribu-
tion (a reward) from the depositor. He generally re-
ceives 1 percent. A gentleman from Mobile on one
occasion gave more. By large amounts I mean $100
and upwards.

The putting up in packages for large depositors
is never done except by special request. It is an ar-
rangement between the depositor and Porter with
which the office is not connected.

(Continued on page 14)

Page 14

The E-Gobrecht

(Continued from page 13)

I have never known an instance of a fraction in
a package of $10. When a fraction is necessary it is
paid in loose change.

The money paid to Casas was counted by the
Porter, Mr. Ducain

Response by Mr. Ducain, the Porter, to an un-
recorded question by Mr. Bradford, the Superinten-
dent; June 25 (page 163)

At the commencement of my examination I
stated that I had given $200. I did so because I felt em-
barrassed, but on recollecting that I had taken a mem-
orandum I collected myself. I had written 21 packages
of $10 each and $2 in dimes. The packages were all
rouleaus of $10 each. For a while I was in the habit of
making rouleaus of the 5 cent pieces, but lately, that is
within a month, I have put them up in packages be-
cause the rouleaus took up too much time

. . .On the form of the rouleaus being exhibited,
the witness said that he recollects having delivered 21
such and $2 in dimes to Mr. Demitry who gave them
to Casas. Casas put the $2 in his pocket and the rou-
leaus in his handkerchief. I heard Casas deposition last
night. I am sure that there never was a Rouleau con-
taining $9.50 and thus marked. All the rouleaus of
dimes were put up by me at that time.

Response by Mr. Ducain, the Porter, to an un-
recorded question by Mr. Maxwell (the Melter and Re-
finer). June 25. (Page 164)

There were rouleaus amounting to about $500
when Casas came in, they were on the table

''Rouleau” is a French word for a small roll.
Ducain’s testimony was in English, but he used the
term rouleaus when referring to the coin rolls. He tes-
tified that he was fluent in French, Spanish, and Eng-
lish. It seems interesting that the Porter at the Mint
seems to have held a position in which he could possi-
bly make small amounts of extra money on the side by
packaging or rolling coin for depositors. A reference
to $500 in rouleaus were on the table, this would have
been about April 20, 1839, when Casas was paid. Both
the 70,000 1838-0 No Stars half dimes as well as an
estimated 121,600 1838-0 No Stars dimes were struck
in January 1839. I am unsure when the 1839 dated

dies arrived and when they were first used.

Unknown question directed at Mr. Scheide,
attendant of the coining presses on behalf of Mr. Brad-
ford, Superintendent. July 4 (Page 333)

Thinks all the work was necessarily done but is
of opinion that some of the work might have been de-
ferred and done by degrees after the Mint had got into
operation. All the furnaces had to be built, force
pumps set, all the work benches made, a great many
tools, also a forge built, and a variety of things done
that deponent does not recollect. Supposes that these
things were finished about the latter part of May, 1838.

Q. Could not the adjustment of the machinery
and the necessary changes thereof have been done dur-
ing the time the matter spoken of in your last answer
were under completion?

A. It could have been done if there had been
more machinist, but the machinist were kept all the
time busy. Has sometimes had a press of work in the
coining room when the press would get out of order,
and a supply of planchets was thus accumulated. This
has not often occurred considering the (application of
the machinery. It has occurred frequently in a month.
It has sometimes been necessary to take out the dies
from their being worn. A die lasts about 10 days or
two weeks when there is not a press of work. A good
die will generally strike about two hundred thousand
pieces, means the dime or half dime dies.

Unknown question directed at Mr. Scheide,
attendant of the coining presses, by Mr. Tyler, Coiner.
July 4 (Page 334)

The dies now in the dime press have struck
more than two hundred thousand pieces. They are in
tolerable condition.

Some of Mr. Scheide testimony doesn’t seem
to quite make sense and may be due to the clerks tak-
ing down the testimony had missed words or phrases.
What is of interest is we have a firsthand account that
the dime dies now in the press in July 1839 had struck
200,000 strikes and were described to be in "tolerable”
condition. Also, that a die will last about 10 days or
two weeks in the press, if there is not a lot of work.
Additionally, there is some indication that the coinage

(Continued on page 15)

20 1 /Volume 1 3, Issue 5 (May 20 1 7)

Page 15

(Continued from page 14)

presses would, ''get out of order” occasionally.

The following are excerpts from the testimony
of Edward Brown, a machinist that was foreman of the
Coining Department, under Mr. Tyler, from Decem-
ber, 1837 to July, 1838. (Page 257)

Q. Was any of the machinery condemned by
the coiner?

A. Ey the three coining presses; 2^^; the milUng
press or machine; 3^^ the RoUs were condemned; 4*
The steam engine; 5^^ Some of the cutting presses; 6*
the draw bench, except the jaws, were condemned by
Mr. Tyler.

Q. State the reason why the coining presses
were condemned and whether the condemnation was
reasonable and if otherwise, why not reasonable?

A. Mr. Tyler said to me, what is your interest is
mine and what is mine is yours. Mr. Tyler said to me, I
wish you to give the men to understand that the ma-
chinery is inefficient and will not answer the purpose
for which it was intended, but said he, Mr. Tyler, if I
can keep Mr. Peel away and make some little alteration
to suit my purpose, than I shall shine. His alteration
was to strengthen the triangle, by putting 2 pieces in
the center and to alter the pivots. A short time after he
altered the socket and bah of the joint by making them
smaller. These were all the alterations to the half dime
press.

He also altered the triangle in the half-dollar
press in the same way that he altered the triangle in the
half dime press.

The third press was not altered but was put in
the machine shop to rust instead of being put up as it
ought to have been. The quarter dollar press now in
the machine room is as capable of working as either of
the other two presses with the exception of the trian-
gle, which is not strong enough to hold the die. A new
triangle was brought out from Philadelphia for the pur-
pose of replacing in the room of its original triangle.
On trial in Philadelphia, one made of the same pattern
was found to be sufficiently strong. I think the above
alterations were improper and will eventually prove so.
These presses can be used now, but I think they will be
found to wear the die more than if they had put in the
triangle that was brought out intended to replace the

one in the press. It would have been stiffer and would
have held the die fast and prevented its moving. It was
much more work to alter the triangle as it is now is,
than it would have been to finish the new one. I con-
sider it improper to alter the bah and socket as after-
wards, he, Mr. Tyler, was obliged to fix a plan to make
it oil itself as it is now fixed, unless altered since I left.
Otherwise he would have had to throw it out and
adopt it as it was before, as the point of bearing was so
much less that it created more friction.

Q. A baU and socket being now exhibited to
the witness and the ball appearing to have lost a con-
siderable portion of its surface towards the extremity
of the circle where it meets the socket, exhibiting a
rough and porous appearance. The witness is asked if
he knows whether this bah and socket were among
those sent out from Philadelphia, or were prepared
here and to what press they belong.

A. I cannot swear whether the ball and socket,
or either of them were made here, or sent out from
Philadelphia for they can be made so much alike that
they cannot be distinguished one from the other. I
have no recollection of seeing any crack in the socket
on the one sent out from Philadelphia. In the one ex-
hibited there appears to be a crack. The one exhibited
appears to be from the half dollar press.

Q. From examination of this bah and socket,
state to what cause you would attribute the abrasion of
the surface of said ball and the rough and damaged
condition which it exhibits.

A. Occasioned by not keeping it properly oiled.
It is impossible to tear the surface as it is, if kept
properly oiled. The proof of this is by ascertaining how
much was coined before it was thus injured. I beUeve
that the injury was done in less than 10 minutes after
the first commencement...

The investigation spent a portion of time on
whether Mr. Tyler, the Coiner, took excessive time in
getting his Department up and running and whether
his modifications were necessary or caused more injury
to the equipment. Yes, the Coiner did condemn all the
machinery delivered to the New Orleans Mint except
the jaws of the draw bench. He eventually gets all
working once again. Unfortunately, while there are
more references to the triangle, none fully describe to a

(Continued on page 16)

Page 16

The E-Gobrecht

(Continued from page 15)

layman what the triangle is other than it apparently
held the die steady in the press. The ball and socket
modifications that Tyler made were apparently in an
attempt to get more oil onto these surfaces, and were
described as an attempt of developing a self-oiling op-
eration.

The testimony indicates there were three coin-
age presses at New Orleans Mint in 1839. The dime/
half dime press, the quarter press that was placed into
storage, and the half dollar press. I have a later 1847
source, indicates New Orleans had four presses in the
coining room, but unfortunately it doesn’t name what
sizes. Perhaps the 4* press was a Dollar press.

Hopefully these brief excerpts give a brief
gUmpse of the details that are just coming to Hght, be-
ing uncovered by Senior Researchers with the Support
of major coin clubs.

For those wanting to know the close, Bradford
and Forstall are removed from office. Maxwell and
Tyler both die soon after the deposition. Only Dr.
Hort, the Assayer, continues in his position.

A reference in the papers of Confederate Presi-
dent Jefferson Davis 1808-1840, indicates that David
Bradford, attorney, ex Supt of the New Orleans Mint,
was his brother in law (Authors Monroe and McIntosh
indicate the relationship was probable).

In a letter to his future wife, Varina Howell,
dated March 15, 1844, '4 have just returned from the
performance of a most painful and melancholy duty.
My Brother-in law David Bradford was assassinated
day before yesterday. I went out to his late residence
yesterday and returned to-day bringing me my sister
and her children”.

Whig standard (Washington, D. C.) April 3,

1844.

Mr. Bradford had challenged Mr. Mason to
fight a duel, which was refused on account of the ad-
vanced age of the challenger. Sometime after Bradford
came into a billiard room, while M. was engaged in a
game, and reading the challenge aloud, denounced Ma-
son as a coward, &c. He then left the room. Mason
proceeded to his residence, armed himself with a dou-
ble barreled shot gun, and came out on the street,
where he met with Bradford, and after a few words
had passed between them, the latter attempted to draw

a pistol, when the former fired both barrels of his gun,
charged with buckshot, and mortally wounded his an-
tagonist. After receiving the wound, Bradford fired his
pistol, and wounded Mason, the ball passing through
his right arm and bruising his side. Bradford lived but a
few minutes after being shot.

Sources:

Newman Numismatic Portal at Washington University
in St. Louis; U.S. National Archive, Record Group
104, Entry 24B (US Attorney SUdell Investigation
Transcripts, 1839), https:/ /nnp.wustl.edu
Newman Numismatic Portal at Washington University
in St. Louis; Message from the President of the
United States, 1837, 1838, 1839. (Annual Report
of the Director of the Mint 1837, 1838, 1839),
https:/ /nnp.wustl.edu

Monroe, Haskell M. and McIntosh, James T. Papers of
Jefferson Davis. Volume L 1808-1840. Louisiana

State University Press. 1871 and 1991. Available on
line via Google Books. Reference on Page 7
Washington, D.C. newspaper; Library of Congress.
http:/ / chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

^Liberty

Seated
(Collectors

Founded 1973

20 1 /Volume 1 3, Issue 5 (May 20 1 7)

Page 17

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Publications Editor

Bill Bugert

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P.O. Box 242
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(717) 337-0229

National Positions

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John Frost

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vate fraternal relations among its members and
all those interested in the science of numismatics.

LSCC Membership Information. Dues are bargain
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